‘I’ve done 5 internships and I’m still being offered internships instead’: NUS student frustrated as she struggles to land a full-time job

A final-year university student in Singapore has taken to Reddit to express her frustration over repeatedly receiving internship offers instead of full-time job opportunities. The woman, who holds first-class honours and has completed five internships in various industries with strong recommendations, is currently struggling to find a proper graduate job.

She believes that employers are offering her internships as a way to pay her less or to test her performance, particularly when they claim a need for 1-2 years of experience. The student questions why companies would praise her CV only to offer her an internship, suggesting that this could be a tactic to exploit her labor at a lower cost or to gauge her suitability before committing to a full-time position.

The NUS graduate, who delayed her graduation to gain more experience, feels that those offering her internships are not providing her with the consideration she deserves. Her peers on Reddit urged her to continue applying for proper graduate roles, despite the uncertainty of the current business climate. Some speculated that the companies might be taking advantage of the economic uncertainty to hire interns at intern-level pay, while others suggested that these firms might be seeking to lock fresh graduates down for six months at a lower cost before confirming their full-time employment.

In response to her dilemma, several commenters offered practical advice. They suggested reconnecting with previous internship companies, reaching out to former supervisors for potential job opportunities, and actively monitoring LinkedIn for potential job leads.